Lock for zipper bags



March 29, 1938. A. c. STRAYER 2,112,795

LOOK FOR ZIPPER BAGS Filed-Jul 3, 19:57

Patented Mar. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to bags and particularly to bags designed for containing money or other valuables, such bags being quite commonly used for night depositing service in banks, where the 5 bag containing the money is dropped into a chute at the bank door to be afterwards opened by the proper officials. More particularly the invention relates to a so-called Zipper or separable fastener bag in which the mouth of the bag is held closed by separable fasteners engaged with each other upon a movement of the slide in one direction and disengaged by the movement of the slide in the other direction.

The object of this invention is to provide means for positively locking the slide from movement in a direction to permit the opening of the bag and particularly to provide a locking means which embodies a strap riveted to one wall of the bag by a solid or hollow post which, when the bag is closed, extends through both walls of the bag and through the strap, the end of the post being engaged by a key operated locking device, said strap also carrying a pin which extends through a keeper ring formed upon the slide and disposed 25 on the inside face of the strap so that the slide cannot be in any way tampered with or disengaged to permit the opening of the bag.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

., Fig. 1 is an elevation of the upper end of a bag provided with a separable fastener and having my improved means for holding the fastener and the bag locked.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of a slightly modified form of locking device.

In the drawing I have illustrated a bag such as commonly used for holding money or other valuables and designed for deposit in a bank after the bank is closed, Such bags are usually made of heavy canvas, leather or other suitable material and locked as securely as possible to prevent any unauthorized tampering with the contents. Certain bags of this character are closed by separable fasteners and it is necessary that the slide of this fastener be locked from movement after the bag is closed. A number of different means have been devised for locking these bags from being opened but all of the devices now in use or proposed are open to certain objections which are avoided by the construction illustrated in the drawing.

In the drawing the bag 9 has its mouth closed by the well known separable fastener elements I0 which include the usual slide II with the swinging tongue or handle I2. This handle or hasp is slotted at I3 and the slide is formed with a ring I4 which extends up through the slot when the handle is closed down against the members or teeth II.

Attached to one wall of the bag, as shown in Fig. 1, is a hollow lock-barrel receiving post l5 closed at one end and open at the other, this post being securely attached to one wall of the bag by means to be later stated. This post passes loosely through a large grommet I6 securely attached to the other wall of the bag. The post I5 extends through one end of .a strap I! and holds this end of the strap securely attached to the rear wall of the bag. The free end of this strap carries a large grommet I8. The strap has securely attached thereto an inwardly projecting pin I9 which, when the strap is carried over the slide I I, passes through the eye or ring I4.

Insertable through the grommets I8 and I6 and into the hollow post I5 is a removable locking barrel having a pin tumbler lock and carrying a rotatable bolt at its inner end which, when projected by a key, locks the barrel in engagement within the hollow post I5. When the key is inserted and turned to retract the bolt, the barrel 20 is entirely removed from the hollow post whereupon the strap I! may be opened, withdrawing the pin I9 from its engagement with the ring I4. The slide II may then be shifted from this end of the bag to the opposite end to thus permit the bag to be opened. The wall of the bag may then, if desired, be shifted outward to carry the grommet I6. free of the post I5, though this is not ordinarily necessary.

I have not illustrated the detailed construction of the pin tumbler lock and its bolt carried within the barrel 20 as this form of lock is well known and constitutes no part of my invention except insofar as I use preferably a hollow or tubular post I5 for the reception of this lock.

In Fig. 4, I have shown a simpler and cheaper form of lock in which all of the parts are precisely the same as heretofore described, except that the post I 5 is solid and at its extremity has an aperture 2! through which the hasp of a padlock 22 may be placed. Otherwise than this, as above stated, the structure shown in Fig. 4 is precisely the same as that shown in Fig. 1, except that smaller grommets I6 and I8 may be used.

It will be noted that the strap I1 is attached to the bag by one end of the post I5 or by the post I5 so that" the strap will resist very great strain. The strap 11, when drawn down tothe position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is relatively taut and cannot be pulled away so as to remove the pin l9 from the eye or ring I4. Thus the slide H is locked absolutely from any longitudinal movement and inasmuch as it is held in a fully closed position there is no possibility of the bag being opened even to a very slight extent, so that small coins or other objects might be discharged therefrom.

It is pointed out that in my structure, the ring I4 is disposed on the slide to extend upward, thus permitting the pin l9, after it is inserted, to be seen and readily guided into place within the ring or eye 14. Eyes or rings have heretofore been provided on the handle-of the slide but extending downward through aslot in the slide and the shackle of a padlock has been passed through the openings in the bag and through this ring. This structure is open tothe objection that it is, in the first place, difficult to pass the .shackle-throughthe eyelets in the bag and through the ring of the-slide as it is dimcult tokeeplthe ring in ,alinement with the eyelets and the ring is usually missed when passing the shackle through the grommets or eyelets. Furthermore, this construction does not prevent the slide from pulling back'partially, which allows of the extraction of vsmall'coinsifrom the bag. The insertion of a'padlock through eyelets is rather diflicult to accomplish because the lock shackles mustbama'de rather small in order to eliminate bulk on the bag which is also small. In my construction, I have provided a strapwhich locks the Zipper slide in immovable position, this leather strap furthermore protecting the ring on top of the Zipper-so that this ring cannot be used where pressure might break it off. The strap is-so attached that it cannot easily be disengaged by ripping the threads in a sewedon strap or'by'strain as it is held in position entirely by'metal eyelets and attached to metal. Furthermore, I have provided a pin connection insertable into the top ring on the Zipper slide which connection is practically automatic as it comes into position for insertion as the strap is pulled over the top of the slide. Preferably I use a .paracentric lock 20 receivable within the post l5,,. thislock being particularly strong and suitable for the purpose. The bag fastening means which I have devised cannot be opened without showing evidence of tampering and it is equal insecurityto a metal or lead seal.

The post zl5 must beheld firmly in place on the rear wall of the bag'so that it cannot be detached. I have found that in actual manufacture, it isbestfor-thispurpose to-havethe post I-5 pass through an eyelet in the rear ,wall of the bagand then force asecon'd eyelet between the clenched eyelet and the post clenching this secondeyelet against the expanded rear end of the post. This prevents any possible removal of the post without practically destroying the bag. However, any means maybe used which will permanently secure the post to the bag and prevent any easy detachment therefrom.

What is claimed is:- v

1. In :a bag having coacting separable fastening members on the-opposed edges of the bag and a slidecoactingtherewith, the slide having an upwardly projecting ring; a locking means therefor including a post permanently attached to the rear wall of the bag, the front wall of the bag having an aperture through which the post passes when the :bag is closed, key. operated means engageable with the post, and a strap per:

manently attached to the outer face of the rear wall of the bag and having an opening at its free end adapted to engage over said post, the strap on its inside face having a projecting pin for passage through the ring on the slide when the strap is drawn across the mouth of the bag with the mouth closed and the aperture of the strap engaging over the post.

2. In a bag having separable fastening elements atits mouth and a slide coacting therewith, the slide having an upwardly projecting ring and a hinged handle slotted to receive said ring when the handle is closed down against the slide; looking means therefor including a hollow post permanently attached to the rear wall of the bag and open at its outer end, the front wall having a gromme'tthrough which the post passes when the bag is closed, a'strap permanently attached to the outer face of the rear wall of the bag,

the free end of the strap having a grommet adapted-to be disposed-oversaid post, the-inside face. of the strap having a projecting pin adapted to be passed through the ring on theslide when the strap is drawn across the mouth of the bag with the mouthclosed-and the grommet of the strap-engaging-over thepost, and a lockingelement engageable with the free end of the post and holding the strap in locked position upon said post.

3. In a bag having separable fastening 'elements at its mouth and a slide coacting therewith, the slide having an upwardly projecting ring and a hinged'handle slotted to receive said ring when the handle is closed down againstthe slide; locking means therefor including a hollow post permanently attached to the rear wall of the bag and open at its outer end, the front Wall of the bag having a grommeted opening through which the post may be passed, a strap permanentlyand securely attached to the=outer face of the rear wall at one end and having a grommeted aperture at its free-end to engage over said post, the inside face of the strap having a projecting pin for passage through the ring on the slide when-the strap is drawn across the mouth of the bag with the mouth closed, and a locking member insertable into the'open end of the post and locking therein, the locking member when inserted holding the free end of the strap in engagement with the post.

4. In a'bag of the character described, having separable fastening elements at its mouth'and a slide coacting therewith, the slide havingan upwardly projecting ring and a hinged handle having a slot through which the ring is passed when the handle is closed; locking means therefor including a post permanently attached to the rear wallof the bag, the-extremity of the post being apertured, the front wall of the bag'having a grommetedape-rture through which the post passes when the'bag is closed, astrap having one end permanently attached to the outer-face -of the rear wall of the bag by saidpost, the free end of the strap having -a grommeted opening adapted to engage said post, the strap on its inner face having an inwardly projecting pin adapted to be passed through the ring on the slide when the strap isdrawn across the mouth of the bag with the mouth closed and a locking device including a shackle passing through the slot in the extremity of the post.

5.'In a bag of the character described, havin separable fastener elements at its mouthandj'a slide coacting therewith, the I slide having an upwardly projecting ring; locking means including a post permanently attached to the rear wall of the bag, the front wall having a grommeted aperture through which the post passes when the jecting pin midway of its ends for passage through the ring on the slide when the strap is drawn across the mouth of the bag and the mouth closed, and a locking element engaging with the post and when engaged extending across the 5 strap.

ARTHUR C. STRAYER. 

